Add MS 74650

[? ROBERT PUGH, ALIAS JONES (d. 1714), D.D.]: Spiritual exercises for Roman Catholic priests, in Latin; circa late 17th cent. The full title (f. 2) runs 'Recollectio spiritualis per decem dies continuos, ubi agitur de exercitio spirituali sacerdotibus, id est, missionariis in vinea Domini laborantibus consono'. The course of exercises, which is prefaced by an explanation of purpose and method, is divided into three parts, each with its own index. The first and second parts ('Via Purgativa' and 'Illuminativa': ff. 1-29, 36-60) consist of twelve meditations each and the third ('Via unitiva sive amoris': ff. 66-98) of sixteen, followed by an epilogue, etc. (ff. 98-101). Purchased from A. R. Heath of Clifton, Bristol, October 1999.

Paper: ff. vii+101. 145 x 92 mm. Contemporary binding of smooth calf over boards, stamped with compartments and fleurons, the spine incorporating four raised bands, all gilt-tooled. Formerly inserted loose in the volume and now tipped in following the sections in which they were found are two prayers (ff. 34, 64) excised from a contemporary printed work in Latin, along with three manuscript slips (ff. 30, 32, 62) soliciting the prayers of Sts. John the Baptist, Anastasia and Martha. Pressmarked in pencil inside front cover (f. ii) '27. A.' and 'L 8 - 34', with auctioneer's circular label (f. i) marked in biro '141' pasted on spine. From the collection of Joseph Gillow (armorial bookplate, dated 1890, at f.iv), with his autograph attribution (f. iiiv) to Pugh and some biographical notes (ff. v-vi), signed and dated 1916, in which he states that he purchased the MS early in 1914 along with Pugh's list of members of 'The Institute', 1695, and eleven other volumes. For further details concerning Pugh see Gillow's Biographical Dictionary of English Catholics, vol. V, 1902, pp. 374-375. Subsequently bequeathed by the Catholic bibliographer David M. Rogers (d. 1995) to Downside Abbey.